Have you ever tried an apple that tastes like a banana? It sounds weird, but what actually makes the apple taste like an apple? Our tongue is definitely important for identifying food flavors, but if you have ever had a stuffy nose, you probably noticed that your smell contributes to taste as well. Which of those senses has more influence on flavor? Imagine eating an apple and, at the same time, smelling a really strong banana scent. How to you think the apple will taste? Will the nose or the…
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Sauerkraut, pickled fish, pickled vegetables, kimchi, corned beef, processed cheeses, smoked lunch meats. Do you like these high-salt foods? What about your grandparents, do they? Do your grandparents seem to like most foods to be a bit saltier than you do? Try this science fair project if you want to find out more about the incredible, edible rock known as salt, and why people vary in how much of it they like to eat.
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HumBio_p026

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

No issues. Adult supervision is recommended to help with the pouring of large pots of water.

Cake, cookies, pie, ice cream, hot chocolate, lemonade... Yum! What do all these delicious treats have in common? Sugar. In addition to providing sweetness, sugar adds bulk, flavor, and structure to foods. But is it necessary to add sugar to achieve sweetness? Can the same sweetness be achieved using sugar substitutes like artificial or natural sweeteners? In this project, you will test sugar and sugar substitutes and compare the sweetness of each in relation to sugar. In the end, your day will…
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Have you ever been to a buffet and found yourself surrounded by a wide variety of taste sensations? People are generally able to discern five basic tastes: sweet, umami (also known as savory), salty, sour, and bitter. How sensitive is a person's tongue for these basic tastes? Is it easier to detect some flavors at low concentrations compared to others? In this human biology science project, you will find out by exploring your taste thresholds for sweetness, saltiness, and sourness. Get ready to…
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If you developed a super-sour candy, drink, or dessert, to whom would you sell it? Do people of all ages love sour, or is there a difference between the sour preferences of kids and adults?
In this mouth-puckering science project, you will find out by making batches of lemonade that vary in their sourness and have volunteers taste them!
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Fuzzy things are often cute, but not when that fuzziness is mold on your strawberry—yuck! Companies look for natural, plant-based ways to protect the berries from mold when they are in the store, waiting for you to purchase them. Would washing them in aloe vera juice protect strawberries from mold? Do this project and find out!
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Fresh strawberries and summer just go together. Walking through the local farmers' market on a warm day, the bright, red strawberries call out to you, beckoning you to buy them and take them home. The next day, as you get ready to savor the delicious berries, you notice that yesterday's juicy, red strawberries are now covered in...eewwww, mold! In this cooking and food science fair project, you will investigate thermotherapy and whether this technique can preserve strawberries and prevent mold…
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FoodSci_p064

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Time Required

Long (2-4 weeks)

Prerequisites

You will need a stovetop to heat water. You will also need fresh strawberries, so be sure you're performing this science fair project in the right season. Frozen strawberries will not work.

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night just not feeling well? Maybe your mom or dad gave you some medicine and you felt better after taking it. Medicine is a great tool in the fight against an illness, but medicine can be a poison if too much is taken. Similarly, household products can clean your home and make it smell great, but if eaten, can be poisonous. That is why most medicines and household products are stored in childproof containers. But are childproof containers really…
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HumBeh_p047

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Time Required

Very Long (1+ months)

Prerequisites

You need access to Kindergarteners who can do this human behavior science fair project.

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

For this human behavior science fair project, you will have to safely dispose of medications and household products. Always wear disposable gloves and safety goggles while cleaning out the containers. Adult supervision is required.

Have you ever heard the expression "a canary in a coal mine"? In the 1900's and earlier, coal miners brought canaries with them into the mines to act as early warning signals. The canaries were very sensitive to low levels of dangerous gases, so if the birds stopped singing, or got sick, then the miners knew to leave immediately, even if they felt fine. As it turns out, our froggy friends are also very helpful at signaling problems, not in mines, but in and around bodies of water. Try this…
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EnvSci_p048

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Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

Students must have access to a pond, lake, or marsh with abundant frogs.

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Safety

Never explore natural bodies of water alone. Never pick up brightly colored frogs. Adult supervision is required.

Have you ever wondered why a plant that grows well in one environment may not survive in a different environment? For example, plants that grow well in a wet jungle would probably not do so well in a dry desert, lacking enough water. This is because plants have adapted to their specific environment. Some plants have even adapted to tolerate chemicals that would usually be toxic, such as various heavy metals. In this plant biology science project, you will investigate whether different…
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PlantBio_p047

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Time Required

Very Long (1+ months)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

The Arabidopsis thaliana seeds for this science project need to be specially ordered in advance with the help of a parent or teacher. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.

Cost

High ($100 - $150)

Safety

Take all proper safety precautions when working with the heavy metals. Wear gloves. You may need additional protection, such as goggles.

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